Abstract
Objective—To evaluate hematologic and serum biochemical changes in Salmonella ser Typhimurium infected calves.
Animals—16 male 3- to 4-week-old dairy calves.
Procedure—13 calves were experimentally infected with S Typhimurium (strains IR715 and CS401, which are derivatives of ATCC 14028), and 3 calves were uninfected controls. Several hematologic and serum biochemical parameters were measured.
Results—Hematologic changes included increases in PCV, RBC count, and hemoglobin concentration, associated with a transitory leukopenia characterized by neutropenia and lymphopenia. Biochemical findings included hypoglycemia, increased BUN, creatinine, and fibrinogen concentrations, and decreased sodium, total CO2, calcium, total protein, and albumin concentrations. Increased total bilirubin concentration associated with decreased conjugated bilirubin concentration was also observed. No significant changes in aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, and creatinine kinase activities were detecte
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Experimental salmonellosis of calves results in marked to severe dehydration, accompanied by metabolic acidosis, hypoglycemia, and an acute inflammatory response associated with increased fibrinogen concentrations and severe neutropenia immediately after inoculation. (Am J Vet Res 2002;63:1145–1150)
